The two events (the healing of the Sabbath and the plucking of the heads of grain) did not happen on the same Sabbath (see Luke 6:6). The two are, however, connected by the successive actions of the Pharisees: the warning at the time of the plucking of heads of grain is followed by the collection of material for the accusation (Mark 3:2). It appears now that Pharisees from the place where Jesus lived were also involved in the matter of the plucking of the heads of grain.

Jesus belonged to the synagogue at Capernaum; the Pharisees in this synagogue therefore feel that they are responsible for the supervision of Jesus and that it is their duty to bring him if necessary before one of the Jewish courts of justice in Galilee (a small Sanhedrin with twenty-three members). Since they are now consciously involved with collecting material for a process (that will end in death), they pay close attention to Jesus now that there is a man with a withered hand in the synagogue.¹